20 Attractions to Explore Near Quartz Creek

Tomichi Dome rises north of U.S. Highway 50 west of Hot Springs Creek and south of Waunita Hot Springs Reservoir in the southeast quarter of Gunnison County, Colorado. It is situated within the Gunnison National Forest.Tomichi Dome has been described as an extrusive, volcanic feature where the initial eruptions deposited breccia and tuff that is over 670 feet thick. A flow or dome of topaz rhyolite overlies the tuff.

Lamphier Lake is a glacial tarn that was scooped out of the surrounding rock during the last ice age. Its trailhead serves as access for Henry Mountain located in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness. The same trail also leads to Gunsight Pass. The lake is 2.77 miles from the parking area. Fossil ridge is behind the lake.

The Gunsight Pass Trail is not only a popular day hike, but is also a very popular 2 to 3 night backpacking opportunity. With backcountry campsites located at Gunsight Lake, Lake Ellen Wilson, and near the Sperry Chalet, you can take your time and really enjoy this beautiful area.

Henry Mountain is a fairly remote summit located in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness Area. The 13,261-foot thirteener is located in the Fossil Ridge Wilderness of Gunnison National Forest. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do. It also offers nice views of this area.

The Fossil Ridge Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located approximately 16 miles northeast of Gunnison. Covering 32,179 acres, the area is made up of raw granite that overlooks several shallow high mountain lakes and long valleys carved by ancient glaciers. Pine, spruce, fir, and aspen are found here. The 26 miles of trail within the Wilderness are open to foot and horse travel only.

Fairview Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3.781m above the sea level, located in Gunnison County. The immediate area around Fairview Peak was scorched in a wildfire a few years ago and so there is a ghost forest surrounding the immediate area of the peak. There is not an established trail leading to the summit, however at the top of the peak there is a Forest Service Marker as well as a log book.

The Gunnison National Forest is a protected area situated in the western part of the US state of Colorado. It consists of a variety of wilderness terrain, covering vast distances in secluded places like the West Elk Mountains, Raggeds Wilderness, Fossil Ridge, and the La Garita Wilderness. A good trekking destination and also it offers nice views of wildlife and forest.

Tomichi Creek is a relatively small waterway that mirrors US-50 for much of the way between Monarch Pass and Gunnison. The Tomichi Valley is a semi-wide valley allowing Tomichi Creek to meander and split into several waterways creating an excellent livestock range and being largely private ranch lands.Tomichi Creek State Wildlife Area is a gated public access with parking located at the east end of the runway at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.

Cochetopa Canyon is a valley in Colorado and has an elevation of 7841 feet. Cochetopa Canyon is situated nearby to Cochetopa Creek. Beautiful rock formations line Highway 114 and lead down to this little oasis located between Saguache and Gunnison. A scenic location where you can spend some beautiful time.

Cumberland Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The pass is traversed by Forest Road 765 and can be accessed from the towns of Tincup to the north and Pitkin to the south. The Cumberland Pass road was built in 1882, connecting the mining towns of Tin Cup to the north and Pitkin to the south. Evidence of past and present human activities can be found at Cumberland Pass.

Alpine Tunnel is a 1,772 ft narrow gauge railroad tunnel located east of Pitkin, Colorado on the former Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad route from Denver to Gunnison. It was a 1,772 feet long tunnel built for a narrow gauge rail line that ran from Denver to Gunnison. It opened in 1882, and was the first tunnel crossing of the Continental Divide in the state.

Napoleon Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The pass is the saddle between Napoleon Mountain to the west and Fitzpatrick Peak to the east and divides the watersheds of Middle Willow Creek to the north and Quartz Creek to the south. Napoleon Pass is traversed by Forest Trail 540 and can be accessed from the towns of Tincup to the north and Pitkin to the south.

Tomichi Pass is a high mountain pass in the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. It is located in Gunnison County and in the Gunnison National Forest. The pass divides the watersheds of Middle Quartz Creek to the north and Tomichi Creek to the south.The pass was originally traversed by a pack trail connecting the mines and mining camps to the north with those to the south in the 1870s.

Hancock Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.702m, located on the boundary between Chaffee and Gunnison counties, in western Colorado. The pass is on the border between Chaffee and Gunnison counties and between the Gunnison and San Isabel national forests. The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It's called Forest Road 839 and Forest Road 299. It’s moderate difficulty and is very rocky and slow going.

Monarch Mountain is one of the oldest Colorado ski areas, which opened in 1939. It’s located in the central Rocky Mountains near Salida and receives over 350 inches of snow each year. The resort is situated on Monarch Pass at the continental divide. It has 54 trails, two terrain parks, and an extreme terrain area called Mirkwood. The Monarch Mountain Lodge is located three miles (5 km) east of the ski area in the town of Garfield, Colorado.

Billings Lake is a 97.4 acre natural water body with a concrete dam, which raises the water level by 10 feet. A number of houses have been built on the western side of the lake, and most of them are occupied only during the summer months. The rest of the lakeshore is forested, with the exception of a camp on the northeastern side.

North Fork Reservoir is a reservoir behind North Fork Dam, on the Clackamas River, upriver from Estacada. It is found at an elevation of 666 feet. It is a popular fishing area and it is near Portland, Oregon, is easily accessible, and is a popular recreation area. It is also a popular boating area.

Hunt Lake Trail is a short hike below the Continental Divide north of the summit of Monarch Pass and east of Salida, Colorado. The trail is fairly steep in places and moves over rocky, rough terrain. Hiking poles are a good idea to provide yourself with extra stability. Ensure that you have proper footwear that offer good stability for this rough granite trail with has lots of ups and downs.

Monarch Pass is one of the most breathtaking and fun to visit high elevation mountain passes in Colorado. The pass carries U.S. Highway 50 over the Sawatch Range, providing a route between Tomichi Creek in the upper basin of the Gunnison River on the west and the South Arkansas River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, on the east. The pass is widely considered one of the most scenic in Colorado, offering a panoramic view of the southern end of the Sawatch Range from the summit.

Taylor Park Dam is on the Taylor River, a tributary of the Gunnison River. The dam is a zoned earthfill structure 206 feet high, with a crest length of 675 feet and a volume of 1,115,000 cubic yards. It creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 106,200 acre-feet. Available fish species in the reservoir include rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout, mackinaw, kokanee, northern pike, and brook trout in the tributaries.